Day: February 25, 2016

I am a lucky man. I’ve managed to fall into a work situation that is something I really enjoy doing. I get to interact with young minds every day and participate in their growth an exploration of a world that grows smaller yet deeper with each passing tech iteration. I teach a swirl of subjects that allow me to stay engaged in literature and non-literary writing. So long as I get the competencies handled, I can teach however I like. All of that is meaningless unless the students are engaged.

I’ve been almost anti-social at work lately, struggling to balance the responsibilities of office with the realities of life, family, and relationships. A good deal of that has to do with feeling like I’m drowning in essays and assignments, never fully able to get ahead of it all. Now none of that matters if I feel like I walk into a classroom and have a moment with the students where we share that love of learning. This hasn’t been happening as much in some classes and virtually not at all in one class in particular.

The class in question is a mythology class where I am trying to connect classic mythological understanding to modern literature. We are currently cruising through the world of Gaiman’s American Gods, a story I felt connected all of mythology together in a big ole soup. Now I get that the novel is a hard read and that I as an instructor am very demanding of critical thinking, but this group is killing me. Not getting it is one thing, but not wanting to try to find meaning is making me hate my job.

I need to figure out a way to figure them out and give them the space to build that connection between the novel and themselves and to discover the joy of mythology so I can get back to reveling in the joy of teaching.

Some Thoughts:

1. This argument over whether or not the President should nominate a new Supreme Court Justice is stupid. It ignores one key fact: Nominations take time. Clearly, republicans are banking on the hope that the White House goes to a republican, giving them more influence in naming the new justice. The problem there is that we are still talking about a really long time for an incoming president to nominate and vet a candidate and then for the hearings to happen to get that person in office. Meanwhile, the 3rd pillar of the federal government is effectively incompetent for the duration of two calendar years (including this one). Why? Because with 8 they can become deadlocked and unable to solve any legal issue.
2. As I write this I’m sitting at Village Inn (part of my T/H morning writing ritual) listening to a car alarm go off. In another era I would have gone outside after the first 2 minutes to figure out how I could help. Today I merely blog about how I would’ve done so. Meanwhile, the horn drones on.
3. One of the reasons I come here is because the waiter I always get is kind of an asshole. He bitches when I show up late or not at all or yawn too much. Feels very New York. Feels like home.

I’m really glad I was never talented enough to be a professional athlete. It feels like a small death to hear someone look at a 34 year old and say, “his best days are behind him.” We are in that era where the window for success seems to creak shut faster and faster. This isn’t the same for writing and science where wisdom is valued over youth.

I suppose this line of thinking feels more mission critical now that I’m in a situation where my body is falling completely apart. I just had my first sinus headache, which severely challenged my ability to reason and ultimately teach. I am not used to that localized pain and pressure. I am even less used to the effect it has on my body.

Still, this blog isn’t about complaining. It is a brief moment of understanding and disappointment about the concept of aging and how our view aging makes it difficult to feel anything but pity towards the idea of maturing (read: growing old). I am seeking other emotions about aging. I’m trying to get excited about it, because of all the challenges (read: work) it has to come.

Some Thoughts:

1. Saw my son’s old team practicing. I was pleased to see the level of involvement of other players. It wasn’t about one or two kids. This is an actual team and about spreading the ball a little bit more. I like it.